After the horrific Charlie Hebdo attacks the world came together to express its condemnation of the heinous murders and in support of freedom of the press. World leaders joined President Hollande in a stand of solidarity for freedom of expression throughout the world. Even Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to France Mohammed Ismail Al-Sheikh was among those present.

It is unconscionable that in the 21st Century flogging remains a form of punishment and that people can be condemned to death for apostasy. How can any government be regarded as a democracy whilst they continue to impose these cruel practices?

Raif Badawi's imprisonment for his blog 'Saudi Free Liberals Forum’ and his punishment for speaking his mind of a 1000 floggings and ten years in prison is shocking and barbaric.

Freedom of expression is an inalienable right that must be protected and upheld. We cannot be selective as to who can have this fundamental right. We need consistency to ensure that all journalists, bloggers and individuals are protected. To paraphrase Evelyn Beatrice Hall’s quotation we may not agree with what you have to say, but we must defend to the death your right to say it.

As Founder and President of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation and as Council of Europe Goodwill Ambassador for the Abolition of the Death Penalty I felt, from the moment I first heard of Raif's imprisonment and flogging, compelled to help him. This is why I am urging Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz to do all he can to release Raif Badawi.

#JeSuisRaif

Bianca Jagger

President and Chief Executive, Bianca Jagger Human Rights FoundationCouncil of Europe Goodwill AmbassadorMember of the Executive Director's Leadership Council of Amnesty International USAIUCN Bonn Challenge Ambassador

At first Raif Badawi stood out for me from all the thousands of ghastly cases clamouring for our attention online because the punishment was so grotesque. I read that a blogger - that felt close to home, though so far away - had been sentenced to flogging: 1000 lashes, 50 a week so he did not die at once, outside the mosque after Friday prayers. It was a very public, long-drawn out form of torture. Repulsive. Unbearable that it should be allowed to happen, week after week, and in a country which is an ally of ours.

Then I read that the sentence had been INCREASED on appeal - another travesty. Like another form of torture.

And that Raif Badawi had also been threatened with a charge of apostasy, which would have meant beheading, not 'just' flogging - at least one Saudi cleric thought 1000 lashes far too lenient.

Then I read some of what Raif had written - that for which he was being punished in this terribly cruel way. I was deeply impressed by his intelligence, calmness, fairness and lucidity.

Given the gross physicality of his punishment, it seemed to me necessary to protest in person, on a weekly picket line with English PEN outside the Saudi embassy in London, not just online - though that is important too.

There is no knowing why the floggings have not happened these last weeks. But we have to keep up the pressure until Raif is released and reunited with his wife and children in Canada.